因场次不同 中文系无法推举毕业生代表 | Chinese major graduands upset: no voting for valedictorian this year

不少中文系学生在收到院方发出投选毕业演讲人的电邮时发现，唯独中文系学生没有选择自家候选代表的权利，因此在面簿上表达不满。

邱振毅 中文编辑 黄俊杰 报道

毕业：于去年其中一场毕业典礼获颁大学文凭的南大毕业生。
照片：南洋理工大学

人文与社会科学院今年的大学毕业典礼将近，不少中文系学生因不能投选毕业生代表，纷纷在面簿表示不满。

人文与社会科学院（HSS）院方昨早发了一则电邮，表示人文与社会科学院今年的毕业典礼因为学院人数众多，因此得把中文系的毕业典礼安排与艺术设计媒体学院（ADM)联办。此外，该电邮也透露，负责发表毕业演说的毕业生代表将会是艺术设计媒体学院的毕业生，意味着今年中文系将不会有演讲代表，该系毕业生也无法投选演讲人。

反观因为人文与社会科学院其它系所的毕业典礼都在同一个主场举办，所以包括经济系、英文系、多语文学系、社会学系以及心理学系等其它系所的学生，都能为自己的毕业典礼投选毕业生代表。

一名不愿具名的南大中文系四年级女学生（22岁）透过面簿发表不满：“这简直是歧视。怎么不让我们有派演讲人代表科系致词的机会，我相信中文系生也一样可以发表像样的英文毕业演说。”

另一名男同学（25岁）则表示，学校可能因为真的没有任何合适人选，所以没有推举任何中文系学生当毕业生代表，但他认为，学校应更妥当地处理这次事件。

他说：“我真不理解为何学校会如此突然宣布这样的消息。况且单独把中文系学生排除在外的举动，学校真是太不了解人情世故了。”

他补充说，学校完全不咨询中文系学生意见，硬性安排中文系毕业礼场次安排与艺术学院一同举办，并不给予中文系学生推举毕业生代表的机会，令他十分不满。

其实这也不是第一次人文与社会科学院将系所旗下的毕业生移到其它系所的毕业典上联办，例如去年的毕业典礼也是因为人数众多，因此经济系的毕业生和艺术设计媒体学院也被安排在同一个场次，而去年该场次的毕业生代表也从经济系的学生中选择。

人文与社会科学院学生生活与通讯的南大人文与社会科学院副院长 Tan Joo Ean 博士表示，人文与社会科学院并没有任何故意要把中文系于其它人文系所分离的意思，并因用词上所产生的误会表达歉意。

她说：“人文与社会科学院作为目前南大人数最多的院校，无法将所有毕业生齐聚在南洋大礼堂内，参与同一场毕业典礼。因此每一年我们都会将其中一所院校与其它院校合办。”

“被如此安排的系别，当天发表毕业演讲的会来自于当天的其中一所系所。毕业生代表将会代表所有学生进行演讲，而去年的毕业演讲者，就来自于人文与社会科学院。”

南大中文系系主任衣若芬副教授随后通过电邮和中文系群组发表声明:“由于人文与社会科学院的毕业生人数众多，礼堂无法一次容纳所有毕业生及家长，每年轮流有科系与其他学院一同举行，今年轮到中文系。同样的，致词的毕业生代表也是每年轮流，去年由中文系代表致词，今年將由其它学系代表。”

在中文系系主任发表声明后，大多中文系学生情绪似乎已得到平息，有部分中文系学生表示感谢中文系在短时间内针对学生们的困惑，做出十分有诚意的解释。不过，有人也认为一些问题仍需更妥善地回复。

有学生表示： “我只有一个不懂的地方：如果致辞的毕业生代表是每年轮流，为何还保留投票选举环节。”

Some of NTU’s Chinese major graduands have taken to social media to express their unhappiness over the university’s Convocation ceremony arrangements this year.

By Kiew Zhen Yi, Chinese Editor & Jonathan Huang, Chinese Writer

TOP OF THE CLASS: Yeo Min Hui, last year’s HSS valedictorian and Chinese major graduand, gives her speech.
PHOTO: NTU

A number of Chinese major graduands from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) took to social media to express their dissatisfaction yesterday, after being told that they will not be given a chance to vote for a valedictorian to represent their cohort at the upcoming HSS Convocation, which is split into two ceremonies –– 14 and 15.

An email from the HSS office stated that Chinese major graduands would be the only HSS bachelor’s degree graduands at Ceremony 15, along with those from the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM).

The email also stated that an ADM student will be the appointed valedictorian for that ceremony, due to its larger cohort size. On the other hand, graduands across all other HSS majors with a graduating batch this year — Sociology, Psychology, English, Economics and Linguistics and Multilingual Studies — will be able to vote for their valedictorian at Ceremony 14.

A final-year Chinese major, who declined to be named, expressed her discontent in a Facebook post.

“This is plain discrimination! Why are we not given the chance to have our own valedictorian? I believe Chinese majors can deliver a speech in English as well,” said the 22-year-old.

Another graduating Chinese major noted that there might have been a lack of suitable candidates for the honour of valedictorian. The 25-year-old, who also did not wish to be named, felt that the school could have dealt with the issue in a more appropriate manner.

He said: “I really do not understand why the school announced this in such a sudden way. Moreover, by excluding Chinese majors, the school is obviously lacking the necessary depth in dealing with this sensitive issue.”

He further conveyed his disappointment in the school for not consulting students before going ahead with their decision.

Associate Professor I Lo-fen, Head of Division of Chinese, addressed final-year Chinese major students through an email announcement, stating: “Due to the huge graduating batch of HSS (about 700 students every year), the school’s Auditorium is unable to accommodate all the graduating students and their families. Every year, one division will have to conduct their Convocation ceremony with other schools in NTU, and it is the Division of Chinese’s turn this year.

“Likewise, different majors take their turns in having their students (represent) as the valedictorian yearly. Last year, it was a representative from the Division of Chinese. This year, it will be (a representative) from another division,” she added.

The Chronicle understands that the Economics Division faced a similar situation during the HSS Convocation ceremony last year. In response, HSS organised a separate ceremony for the graduating batch and allowed them to elect a valedictorian among their course mates.

HSS Assistant Chair (Communications) Dr Tan Joo Ean told the Nanyang Chronicle that the school did not “intend to separate the Chinese Division from the HSS family in any way”. Dr Tan also apologised for the misunderstanding.

The initial furore died down after the Chinese Division’s announcement. Some students thanked the department for addressing their queries in a sincere manner within a short period of time.

However, others believed that some questions have yet to be substantially answered.

“I don’t understand, if the valedictorians are rotated once a year, why is there a need to retain the voting system?” asked another final-year Chinese major, who declined to be named.